We were lucky to catch up with Nick Audy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nick , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My journey into the world of music began right at home. My mother was a significant influence; she’s a talented musician who would play the guitar and sing. Music was always present in our household, and it felt like a natural part of life.

Watching my mom play the guitar and pour her heart into her songs was special. I was drawn to the music like a magnet. Instruments were scattered around our home, and I couldn’t resist picking them up and trying to create my own sounds.

One pivotal moment happened when my mom took me to her choir practice. As the choir sang, I found myself irresistibly drawn to the rhythm section. I started tapping on whatever I could find, creating an impromptu percussive background. That’s when she knew I was a drummer.

My family really were incredibly supportive. They saw something special in my enthusiasm and innate sense of rhythm. Interestingly, I never had a formal drumming lesson at that point. It just felt right. By the age of five, I was already playing percussion alongside the choir. It was a natural fit.

There was a remarkable concert at Symphony Hall in Boston celebrating American composers. John Williams was the head conductor that night, and his music completely changed my life. When I heard his compositions, it was like a flood of emotions and imagination. It was more than music; it was a revelation of endless possibilities.

Music wasn’t just a passion; it became my life’s purpose. It was a commitment to sharing the incredible magic of music with the world. Since then, I’ve been on a continuous musical journey, and it’s been an amazing ride.

Nick , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I first started my professional career in music at a young age. I was playing drums for the church and then playing shows all across New England with various artists. When it was time to graduate from high school, Berklee seemed like it was made for me.

I’ll be honest; my audition song, which was taken from this metal band I loved, probably wasn’t the smartest choice to audition with, but I wanted to stay true to my playing style. That was the most important thing to me. I didn’t want Berklee to change me, but needless to say, I got in.

After graduating, I moved out of my hometown, Boston, and flew across the country to LA. That’s when real life hit. I started my career as a session drummer, working in and out of all the major studios in the area, playing for anyone and everyone. But as a couple of years went by, I found some musicians I aligned with, and we formed a band called HUNTR.

We had a bunch of success placing our music with EA Games, Netflix series, and radio play. That band’s music is what led me back to my first love: film scoring.

We were approached by a fan to score his film. He loved our sound and thought it would be a great fit for his film. Now, until this moment, I never thought I would put drums aside and focus mainly on being a composer. I had never scored a film before. I felt like I had no business even thinking I could score a film, but I always listened to scores. John Williams was my hero. Even being a drummer, I would choose to listen to him over any other music. In my eyes, he is the GOAT. I studied his work for years, not knowing that the legwork I did as a kid, analyzing every note, tempo change, and orchestration, would ultimately be the tools I would use to score my first film.

So with that said, the project lit a fire under me and completely changed my love for music. When I heard that the film “Younger Liars” would be premiering at the Chinese Theater, I was beyond excited. All my favorite movies premiered there. It just simply blew my mind. So there I was, sitting in the dark, hearing my score play back, and it moved me to tears. I still get goosebumps thinking back to that day.

Now looking back, taking on that project is still something I’m most proud of. I had no experience scoring for film, but I took a chance and believed in myself and the people I was working with around me. It was this risk that really propelled my career into becoming a full-time composer. I owe a lot to that film.

What I want potential clients to know is that when I take on a project, I do so because I truly believe in the people who made it.

This industry is all about a group effort. I wouldn’t have a movie to score if it weren’t for the actors who portrayed the characters on screen, or the writers who wrote the story, or the director who put it all together. It is one big collaboration. I am just a small wheel in this giant moving machine, and I only want to work with people who are as passionate about their field of work as I am about mine.

Working with kind-hearted people is really what I look for first in a project. Are these people good? Will they treat me with the same respect? Do we have the same goals? These are the things I look for even before watching the screener. I always looked up to the Spielberg/Williams relationship. They have accomplished 40+ years of working together, and you can tell they have such a mutual respect for each other. That type of working relationship is what I look for when taking on new projects.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that I get to do what I love for a living. Not everyone can say that. I know what it’s like to have a job you hate; we all have to start somewhere, and I did my time. But all that hard work can lead you somewhere. I thank God every day that I get to work from home in my studio and do something I love. It has given me so much energy in life and allows me to be around my daughter and wife more. Time is precious; we all don’t get the same amount. So with the time I have, I want to spend it doing what I love.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe the most important thing society can do to support creatives is to refrain from looking down on the arts. In most schools, music and art are often the first subjects to face budget cuts. To me, this represents the decline of modern society. While there are many people advocating for mental health awareness, which is undoubtedly crucial, it seems that few recognize the profound connection between music, arts, and brain healing.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of music and art, which far outweigh the budget cuts. Even in the older generation, individuals battling dementia sometimes regain memories simply by hearing a tune from their younger years. Music and art are fundamental to our humanity. There is incredible healing power in both, and our society needs to take notice. We must keep music and art in our schools; it will only be beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nickaudy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickaudy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickaudydrums/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-audy-779aa0166/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FNickAudy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickAudy

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Boris Likharev